MICK Wadsworth admits his Hartlepool United players are feeling the effects of their winless run.

Pools have not secured three points in League One since New Year’s Day – a winless run in league and FA Cup of seven games.

But before then they were riding high and full of belief after five successive victories.

Tomorrow’s opponents Colchester are having a sticky patch, winning just two of their nine games since they saw off Pools 3-2 in Essex last November.

“They will look at our run and see it as a chance to win, but I see it the other way and we are due a win. It’s an interesting fixture,” said Wadsworth.

“The run weighs on your mind. These things happen in football, and it’s how you deal with it that is the most important thing.

“We cannot continue a winning run month after month after month.

“We aren’t in that category yet, although I would like to be. We need to get back to basics, and do the things we were doing well until recent weeks.”

He added: “We can achieve more consistency from everyone – players and staff – and I’m sure we can get back to that way.

“When I mentioned the play-offs earlier in the season people thought I was mad. If we can get ourselves together again, we have a chance.

“We have to earn every point, every goal and that’s the case for us throughout.

Solidity is the key.”

The Us needed a fortunate last-gasp penalty to win 3-2 in November – a decision the referee has since apologised for.

Wadsworth said: “We played very well on the day down there and we look for a positive result this time. The goals were a shock the way they happened.

“You get good luck, you get bad luck. They were very lucky to beat us.

“John Ward is a very good friend of mine, a good man.

One of the game’s good guys, an honest coach, vast amount of knowledge and enjoys his work, like I do.’’ Goalkeeper Jake Kean, who spent four impressive months at Victoria Park on loan from Blackburn Rovers, has been called into the England under-20 squad for next week’s friendly with France.

He was watched by Ray Clemence, England’s goalkeeping coach, in the recent loss at Peterborough.